Disk wheel



Oct 27,192 1,558,468

G. H. FORSYTH DISK WHEEL Original Filed March 13, 1922 Patented Oct. 27,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE E. FO'RSYTH, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO MOTOR WHEELCORPORA- TION, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

DISK WHEEL.

Carved out of application on which Patent No. 1,373,184 was grantedMarch 29, 1921, and filed after grant of that patent. This applicationfiled March 13, 1922, Serial No. 543,189. Renewed August 24, 1925.

double disk type wherein the telly portion of the wheel is formedseparate and apart from the two disk portions, this application beingsubject matter carved out of my application Serial No. 264,253, filedNov. 26. 1918.

Steel wheels of the double disk type have in the past generally embodiedtwo disks spaced apart more widely at the center and approaching eachother peripherally near the point of attachment to the rim. Thisemphasizes optically the impression of heaviness and also sacrificesresiliency to rigid strength while at the same time failing to impartstrength in the highest degree except as measured by capacity to carrydead load as distinguished from resistance to laterally applied stressesresulting from skidding, striking of curbs, etc. Where single disks havebeen employed they too usually have been open to the same 0bjcctions.

The main and primary object of the present invention is the provisionof' such a wheel which, due to the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter described, is characterized by a reduced cost ofproduction, an increase in its actual strength under load while reducingthe actual weight, an adaptation to dilterent standard hubs, and anappearance of lightness and symmetry compatible with the best appearingpleasure car.

In order that the invention in its various aspects may be readilyunderstood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, two embodimentsof the invention are set forth hereinafter by way of description and excinplification in the accompanying drawing. ll will be readilyappreciated however that the description and drawing are illustrativeonly and are not to be taken in an unnecessai'il) limiting sense.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a wheel embodyingthe present invention; and

Fig 2 is a similar section throu h a wheel wherein the disk portions maye formed of tempered spring steel, sprung into position; illustrating anembodiment of central spacing construction of particular valuein thistype.

Having articular reference to Fig. l of the drawing the numerals l0 and11 represent respectively the forward and the rear wheel disks. thecentral portions of said disks adjacent the hub being shaped forassemblage with the standard hub 12, hub plate 13. and brake drum 14whereby no special designing of the wheel hub and related parts isnecessary. The first or forward disk 10, which is the smaller indiameter of the two, is shouldered at 15 to bear against the annularwooden insert 16 which preferably corresponds in thickness to the usualwooden spokes of the artillery type at wheel, and to which it is securedby bolts 17. The said disk curves inwardly from the shoulder 15 a shortdistance and then radially and gradually outward in a sweeping curve toits outer marginal edge 18. The second or rear disk 11 is shown ashaving its central portion adjacent the hub disposed parallel to thecorresponding portion of the forward disk and secured to the opposite orinner edge of the wooden insert 16 by means of the previously mentionedbolts 17. This disk extends radially from the side of the wooden insert16 to a point where it curves inwardly and then again radially. thusforming a shouldered portion 19 for bearing upon the brake drum 14. Incase no brake drum is used, as in front. wheels, the curve at 19 impartsadditional resiliency to the disk. Throughout the portion of this seconddisk intermediate the cupped portions or pockets 20 to be describedlater the disk extends from the shoulder 19 in a substantially radialdirection as indicated at 21 to its marginal pc riphery 22,, where it isflanged slightly'to the rear for a purpose hereinafter explained.

In association with the two disks above described, a supplemental fellymember 23 is employed which is preferably formed of heavier metal thanthe disks l0 and 1.1, and serves both to connect the marginal spacedportions'of the two disks and to support the rim 24. The felly member 23has a configuration characterized by marginal beads 25 and 26 for takingover the peripheral portions 18 and 22 of the two disks. It providesalso a shoulder 27 for the bearing of a rim-retaining ring 28, and asecond shoulder at 26 for positioning the rear edge of the rim 24. Bythe employment of this felly member it is rendered possible to use disks10 and 11 of lighter metal than would otherwise be permissible.

Having reference to the curvature of the rear disk 11 where it is formedinto pockets 20, the depressed surface of the disk bears radially andgradually forward from shoulder 19 in substantially parallel spacedrela- 'tion tothe disk 10, and, adjacent the periphery lies against theunder surface of the felly member 23 and conforms with the curvature ofthe said member, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1. Apertures are formedin the deepest portions of the pockets 20 to receive bolts 29 which passthrough aligned openings in the felly member and serve to 'attach therim-retaining ring 28 to the wheel.

With particular reference now to Fig. 2, a form of disk is employed bothon the front and rear faces of the wheel which, asmciated and united bymeans of this felly member, enables the employment, if desired, ofhighly tempered spring steel disks, whereby exceptional strengthaccompanied with great resiliency is obtained.

The front disk 1.0 and the rear disk 11 are of slightly differentdiameters, but in other respects are substantially the same. They arepreferably, although not necessarily, punched from a fiat sheet of hardor. tempered steeland need not be formed in their concave shape by apress. The felly member 23 having been formed, the disks 10 and 11 maybe placed on opposite sides thereof and forced towards each other attheir central portions whereby they are sprung into concave shape andtheir marginal portions, originally held apart by the beaded margins 25and 26 of the telly member, are sufficiently contracted to clear thebeads and snap into the channels formed within the heads. The disks arethen permitted to separate sutliciently at their central and hubportions to allow their outer peripheries to be forced outwardly againunder the spring of the disks as far as permitted by the felly member.In this position they are retained by the inherent tension of the metalin the disks tending to resume its former plane. This method ofassembling forms a wheel of exceeding strength and resiliency,presenting a maximum of resistance to deforming strain and insuring areturn of the wheel to its original shape after deformation.

As a particularly cfiicicnt method of assembling the disks and fellymember in the relation above described, and holding the same inassembled relation, I arrange within the space between the two disksabout the hub portion two telescopically disposed cuplike plates 30 and31, the inner side wall of one and theouter side wall of the other beingthreaded for mutual intercngagement as shown. The inner peripheries ofthese two plates are provided with notches or holes 32 for engagement bya spanner wrench or the like in order that they may be angularlyadjusted relative to each other. By turning one of these plates in onedirection they are caused to approach one. another and thus allow thecentral portions of the disks to be pressed together, thereby dishingthe disks and reducing their diameters sufliciently to permit them toenter the beads 25 and 26 of the folly member. The disks having done so,one of the plates is turned in the opposite direction, thus spacing thecentral portions of the disks farther apart, and supplementing thespring tension of the disks in firmly seating the margins of the samewithin the beads of the telly member. Thereafter the plates 30 and 31constitute a filler member serving to hold the plates in fixed relationat their centers and being themselves prevented from further relativemovement by means of the bolts 17, which unite the hub plate 13 with thebrake drmn 14 while at the same time transtixing the plates 30 and 31.

The locking of the cupped plates 30 and 31 relative to one another alsoprevents any relaxing of the spring tension of the disks due to thetightening of the bolts 17. In this construction the valve stem 33 ismade exteriorly accessible by passing the same through the disk 11. Therim-retaining bolts 29 have their heads disposed within the spacebetween the disk 11 and felly member 23, and are prevented from turningwithin the folly member by-the engagement therewith of a polygonalshank.

It will be observed also that the telescopic arrangement of the'fillerplates 30 and S1 imparts tothe composite filler member an adjustabilityas to thickness, enabling the wheel to be fitted to standard hubs havingvarying distances between front and rear hub plates corresponding to thethickness of wooden spokes employed in ditl'crent wheels of artillerytypc.- 'lhc tillcr member 16 of Fig. 1. also may be dressed down toadapt the wheel to a thinner standard hub. or it may be substituted by amember of greater or less thickness according to the requirements of theparticular hub to be fitted with the disk.

It will be understood that while the illustrated embodiments of theinvention are described as shown, a considerable latitude ltlt) is to bepermitted in construction within the range ofthe claims. For instance,the beaded outer margins and 26 may be formed after instead of beforethe assembly with the disks 10 and 11; also the felly member 23 may beformed integral with either the forward disk 10 or the rear disk 11.

I claim:

1. A disk wheel comprising disks having their inner portions spacedapart in fixed relation at the hub, and their peripheries spaced apart agreater distance and united by a felly member, the intermediate portionof the disks being under compression.

2. A wheel comprising a hub portion, a medial disk portion, and a fellyportion, the medial disk portion formed of two opposed plates spacedfarther apart adjacent their peripheries than adjacent the hub toproduce a double wheel disk having its medial disk portion maintainedunder radially acting compressive stress.

3. A wheel'comprising a hub portion, a medial disk portion, and a fellyportion, the medial disk portion formed of two opposed plates spacedfarther apart adjacent their peripheries than adjacentthe hub andmaintained under compressive stress, the forward and rear faces beingconcave.

4. A disk wheel comprising a hub portion, a felly member and spacedsteel disks, said disks spaced apart in fixed relation at their centralportions by the hub, and spaced farther apart adjacent their peripheriesand held in engagement with the felly by the inherent'spring action ofthe disks.

5. A disk wheel comprising a hub portion, a felly member, and spacedsteel disks connecting the hub and felly, in combination with a pair offiller spacing plates disposed between the disks about the hub, saidplates each flanged towards the other and provided with interengagingthreads, said filler plates provided with means of relative angularadjustment to increase or diminish the space between the disks in theircentral portions,- and means for holding the disks in adjusted relation.

6. The method of forming a metal disk wheel associated with a hub and afelly, which consists indisposing the disks in spaced relation'withtheir outer edges held apart by the felly member having marginalinwardly opening channeled beads, forcing.

the center portion of the disks towards each other until theirperipheries clear the chanspaced relation with their outer edges heldapart by'the felly member havin marginal inwardly opening channeled beas, forcing the center portion of the disks towards each other untiltheir peripheries clear the 'channel walls of the felly, and thenallowing the central portions of the disk to separate .sufficiently tocause their peripheries to seat within the channels of the beads, andthen fixing the assumed relation of the central portion of the disk atthe hub in order to prevent their peripheries from leaving the channelsunder stress.

, 8. A wheelcomprising a hub with front and rear hub plates, a fellyportion and an intermediate disk portion secured at the hub by theplates, with means adjustable as to thickness for spacing the platesapart whereby to enable the utilization of the standard spoke hub in adisk wheel.

9. A wheel comprising a hub with front and rear hub plates, a rimportion, and an intermediate disk portion secured at the hub between theplates in combination with a filler member, adjustable as to thickness,assembled with the disk portion between the hub plates whereby to enablethe utilization of the standard spoke hub in a disk wheel.

10. A disk wheel including front and rear disks spaced apart at the huband having their-peripheries in fixed relation, the two disks maintainedunder radial compressive stress.

11. A wheel comprising disks having their central, portions spaced apartat the hub and their peripheries also spaced apart and united by a fellymember, and means acting to vary the distance betweenthe disks adjacentthe hub whereby to set up and maintain radialcompression in the disks.

12. A disk wheel including a hub, a felly, and front and rear diskssecured to the huband felly, with means acting upon the disks in the hubzone to set up and maintain radial-

